Printing-press ductor-roller mechanism



June 3 E924;

E. F. DUDLEY PRINTING PRESS DUCTOR ROLLER MECHANISM 2 'SheetsSheet 1 Filed March 5. 192] June 3 392%.

E. F. DUDLEY PRIN TING PRESS DUCTOR ROLLER MECHANISM Filed March 5, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fatented Jane 3, W24.

5" I F. DUDLEY, 0F OAK PARK. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO i-:il'l E PRINTING PRESS AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF Ill-W018.

PRINTING-PRES DUCTOR-ROLLEE MECHAM.

Application flied March 8, 1921. Serial No. 449,511.

7'0 all whom it may concern:

Be it-known that l, EDWARD F. DUDLEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at ()ak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Press Ductor-Roller Mechanisms, of which the following is a specification.

Experience has shown that in printingpresses it is desirable, even in reciprocat-ory bed presses, to have the ink fed or transferred substantially continuously and always in the same direction from the inkfountain or reservoir to the form-inking rollers to secure an even and eiiicient distribution thereto and to the form.

Conformably to this end, the current invention provides means for the ready accomplishment of this object by supplying the machine with more than one ductorroller to transfer the ink from the main or ink-fountain distribution-drum to the form vibrator-roller for transmission therefrom to the coacting form-inking rollers.

A pair of such oppositely-rotating ductor-rollers may be conveniently employed and they are designed to contact alternately with the vibrator-roller of the form-rollers and they also act part of the time as distributors on the distributing-drum associated with and adjacent to the ink-fountain.

Such an arrangement permits the use of fewer composition-rollers contacting with the form than is usual, a shorter stroke for the bed, and a possible higher speed of action.

in the preferred embodiment of the inis constant on unlform and it is, therefore,

desirable to so shift the ductor-rollers that they will engage the form vibrator-roller when the latter after its reversal has attamed a surface speed substantially that of the ductor-roller, whereby when they come into contact they will be rotating at the same speed and will not rub on one another.

Similarly each ductor-roller leaves the form vibrator-roller before its surface speed decreases below that of the ink-distributing drum whereby the ductor-roller will engage or come into contact with the latter while both are revolving at practically the same peripheral speed.

For a relatively short period during each reversal of movement of the form and its inking-rollers, both ductor-rollers are coacting with the distributing-drum to assist inthe proper spreading of the ink and to pick up their proper charges of the same for the subsequent transfer to the form-rollers.

T he present invention relates to simple mechanical means for accomplishing these and other advantageous aims and purposes, and in order that those skilled in this art may have a full and complete understanding of a construction embodying such invention, in the accompanying drawing a preferred and desirable incorporation of the invention in physical form has been depicted, the same reference characters applying to like parts throughout the several views.

In this drawing:

Figure 1 is a vertical section on line l--l of Figure 2, the parts being viewed in the direction indicated by the arrows;

Figure 2 is an and elevation of the structure;

Fi re 3 is a vertical section on line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a similar section with the ductor-rollers in different positions; and

Fig. 5 is an end view of the printing press, in which illustration the co-operatin elements are shown more less diagrammatically. I

Turning to the drawin it will be observed that the machine inc udes spaced por tions 11 and 12 of an appropriate framework accommodating a vertically-reci rov eating printing-form bed 13 operated om a crank drive-shaft 101 associated with the sliding form bed by one or more connecting rods 102.

Goacting with the form of such d are a pair of composition form-inking rollers 14 and 15 and a companion, intermediate vi.- brator-roller 16 rotated and reciprocated by the usual and well-known mechanism, where to operate the form-inking and vibrator rollare from the bed or its drivin mechanism whereby to secure the required armony and consonance of action between the coacting elements.

The ink-fountain has not been shown, since it may be of the usual type, but its associated rotary, vibratory distribution-drum 17 is mounted in the frame-work and is revolved at a constant andlregular speed.

The means for rotating this drum 17 comprise an electric-motor 111 operating a horizontal shaft 112 which drives an upright shaft 113 through a worm and worm-wheel connection 114, such vertical shaft in turn rotating the shaft 115 of drum 17 through intermeshing bevel gears 116.

Above such drum 17, and always in contact therewith, is a roller 18 provided'partly to effect the distribution of the ink on the drum, but supplied also to obtain a reversal of the direction of rotation of one of the two ductor-rollers 19 and 21.

These two rollers are mounted for rota- 4 tion in the opposite ends of a pair of supporting arms 22 and 23 apertured at their central parts for the accommodation of and keyed to a shaft 24 oscillatory in aligned bearings 25, 25 at the upper ends of a pair of arms 26, 27 mounted for oscillation on studs 28, 28 supported by and outstanding from the frame elements 11 and 12. 7

Each arm is supplied with a coil torsionspring 29 encircling its stud and having its ends secured respectively to the corresponding frame element and to the arm, the two springs tending to rock the arms in a direction to carry shaft 24 toward the distribution-drum 17.

Keyed or otherwise rigidly fastened to shaft 24 is a depending arm 31 equipped at its lower end with a roller 32 coacting with a cam 33 on a suitably-journalled shaft 34 rotated by any approved means, such as a crank.35 and an associated connecting-rod or link 36 driven fromany appropriate source of power, not shotaaeaase During the ascent of the bed and its form,

the roller 32 then contacting with the outer edge of the cam 33 maintains the arm 31 in such osition, as shown in Figure 3, as to hold t e ductor roller 21 in contact with the form vibrator-roller 16 and the complementary ductor-roller 19 in engagement with the intermediate roller 18, whereby the two latter rollers perform the function of distributin the ink on the drum 17.

en, or at about the time, the bed and form begin to reduce speed, during their upward travel, for the reversal of direction of movement, the cam shifts arm 31 to bring the ductor-roller 21 into contact with the distribution-drum 17 while revolving at practically the same surface speed of the latter, the roller 19 still maintaining its contiguity with roller 18, so that during the time of reversal of movement of the bed and form and the form rollers both ductor-rollers are acting as distributors in connection with drum 17 (Figure 2).

As soon as the bed has reversed its direction of travel and is descending at a surface.

speed substantially that of the roller 19, the cam 33 shifts the rollers into the position shown in Figure 4, in which relation of the parts, the roller 19 contacts with the form vibrator-roller 16, the ductor-roller 21 still performing its function as a distributingroller.

When the bed and form approach their lower limit of movement and while the speed of roller 19 is practically that of roller 18, it is again moved back to contact with such intermediate roller whereby both ductorrollers again temporaril act as distributors during the reversal o movement of the form, and as soon as the latter has acquired proper speed during its upper travel the ductor 21 is once more swun into contact with the vibrator-roller 16. 'fiius the action continues. It will be seen that, whereas the bed and form and the form-inking rollers and their associated vibrator-roller have a variable speed of movement, and, whereas the distribution-drum has a uniform speed, the positions of the ductor-rollers are altered at the proper moments so that they will have substantially the surface speed of the rollers with which they are about to contact, thus avoiding any undesired or objectionable action of the one on the other.

From an understanding of the construction as detailed above, it will be apparent that the sprin -infiuenced arms 26 and 27 tend to cause oth ductor-rollers to engage the distribution drum and its intermediate roller, and that the cam by making arms, 22 and 23 efi'ects the alternate en agement of the ductor-rollers with the Vi rater-roller aeeaees with intervening periods of simultaneous contact with the drum and the intermediate roller. Stated somewhat difl'erently, the ductor-rollers are mounted on a support rockingly carried on a main oscillatory support, the former being cam controlled, the latter spring governed.

It will also be perceived that the two ductor-rollers revolve in opposite direct ons, and, since they alternately engage the vibrator-roller 16 only when it revolves 1n opposite directions, the ink is fed or transferred thereto always in the same direction and more or less continuously or uninterruptedly or as nearly so as the variable speeds will permit.

Obviously the invention is not hunted to this particular embodiment, being susceptible of a variety of incorporations in physical form, and accordingly many minor mechanical changes may be made in the machine or apparatus illustrated and described without departure from the substance of the invention as defined by the appended claims and without sacrifice of its numerous benefits and advantages.

I claim:

1. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of form-inking rollers adapted to coactwith the same form, a vibrator-roller coacting with said forminking rollers, means to rotate said forminking and vibrator-rollers, "a distributiondrum, means to rotate said drum, a pair of ductor-rollers, an intermediate-roller adapted 'to contact with the surfaces of said drum and one of said ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of said ductor-rollers-to cause them to alternately coact with said vibrator-roller and to cooperate with said drum during their periods of non-engagement with the Vibrator-roller, substantially as described.

2. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a vibrator-roller coacting with said form-inking roller, means to rotate saidform-inking and vibrator-rollers at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform speed, a pair of ductor-rollers, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with the surfaces of said drum and one of said ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of said ductorrollers to cause them to alternately coact with said vibrator-roller and to cooperate with said drum during their periods of nonengagement with the vibrator-roller, substantially as described.

3. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of form-inking rollers adapted to coact with the same form, a vibrator-roller coacting with said form-inking rollers, means to rotate said form-inking and vibrator-rollers, a distribution-drum,

means to rotate said drum, a pair of ductorrollers, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with the surfaces of said drum and one of said ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of said ductor-rollers to cause them to alternately coact with said vibrator-roller and to coo rate simultaneously with said drum dunng their periods of non-engagement with the vibrator-roller, substantially as described.

4. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a vibrator-roller coacting with said form-inking roller, means to rotate said form-inking and vibrator-rollers at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform speed, a pair of ductor-rollers, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with the surfaces of said drum and one of said ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of said ductor-rollers to cause them to alternately coact with said vibrator-roller and to cooperate simultaneously with said drum during their periods of non-engagement with the vibrator-roller, substantially as described.

5. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a vibrator-roller coacting with said forminking roller, means to rotate said forminking andvibrator-rollers at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform speed, a pair of ductor-rollers, an intermediate roller adapted to contact with the surfaces of said drum and one of said ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of-said duotor-rollers to cause them to alternately come into contact with said vibrator-roller when rotating at substantially the same peripheral speed as the latter and to come into contact with said drum or said intermediate roller as the case may be during their periods of non-engagement with the vibrator-roller and when revolving at substantially the same surface speed as said drum or intermediate roller, substantially as described.

6. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the'combination of an inking roller, means to rotate said roller at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform s eed, a ductor-roller, and means to shift said ductor-roller into and out of contact with said inking roller, such contact occurring when the two rollers are revolving at substantially the same surface speed and into and out of contact with said distribution drum, such contact occurring when the ductorroller and drum are revolving at substantially the same peripheral speed, substantially as described.

ICE)

nee

7 In a printing-press inking-mechani,

the combination of an inking roller, means .to rotate said roller at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform speed, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with the surface of said drum, a ductor-roller, and means to shift the positions of said ductor-roller to carry it into and outof contact with said inking roller, such contact occurring when the two rollers are rotating at substantially the same surface speed, an into and out of contact with said intermediate-roller, such contact taking place when said two rollers are revolving at substantially the same peripheral speed, substantially as described.

8. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of an inking roller, means to rotate said roller at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to rotate said drum at a substantially uniform speed, an intermediate-roller contactin with the surface of said drum, a pair 0 ductor-rollers, and means to shift the positions of said ductor-rollers to cause them to contact alternately with said inkin roller with intermediate periods in whic said ductor-rollers simultaneously coo crate with the intermediate roller and t e drum, the contact of said ductor-rollers with said inking roller occurring when both are revolving at substantially the same surface s eed, the contact of said ductor-rollers with said drum and said intermediate-roller respectively occurring when the elements about to contact are rotating at practically the same (peripheral speed, substantially as describe 9. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a coacting vibrator-roller, means to rotate said rollers, a distribution-drum, means to revolve said drum, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with said drum, an oscillatory support, means to oscillate said support, a support rockingly mounted on said oscillatory support, and a pair of ductorrollers on em rocking support, whereby mes es said ductor-rollers alternatel engage said vibrator-roller with intermediate enods of engagement respectively withsai distribution-drum and said intermediate-roller, sub stantially as described. I

10. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a coacting vibrator-roller, means to rotate said rollers, a distribution-drum, means to re.- volve said drum, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with said drum, an oscillatory support, means to oscillate said su port, a support rockingly mounted on said oscillatory support, sprin means tendin to rock said support towar said distributlondrum, and a pair of ductor-rollers on said rocking support, whereby said ductor-rollers alternately engage said vibrator-roller with intermediate periods of simultaneous engagement respectivel with said drum and said intermediate-roll er, substantially as described.

11. In a printing-press inking-mechanism, the combination of a form-inking roller, a coactin vibrator-roller, means to .rotate said ro lers at a variable speed, a distribution-drum, means to revolve said drum at a substantially uniform speed, an intermediate-roller adapted to contact with said drum, an oscillatory support, means to oscillate said support, a support rockingly mounted on said oscillator support, sprm means tending to shift sai sup orts towar said drum, a pair of ductor-ro ers on said rocking support, whereby said ductor-rollers alternately engage said vibrator-roller with intermediate periods of simultaneous engagement respectively with said drum and said intermediate-roller, the contact of said ductor-rollers with said vibrator-roller, drum, and intermediate-roller occurrin when they are rotating at substantially the same surface speed as that of the element with which they are to contact, substantially as described.

EDWARD F. DUDLEY. 

